Principal Service Manager in Leeds

As a Principal Service Manager, you will provide strategic direction and management within the Intermediate Care Service, leading the development and administration of services in line with Council policies and procedures. You will oversee Registered Managers, Locality Managers, Coordinators, Senior Support Workers, and Support Workers, ensuring high standards of performance and compliance with legislation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to Council and Local Service Plans, and developing service provision, including multi-agency team working.
• Providing strategic oversight for support planning, risk management, and care programme approaches to meet individual needs.
• Ensuring services are managed efficiently and effectively, maintaining documentation and performance standards.
• Leading within agreed Quality Frameworks, promoting best practice, and monitoring outcomes.
• Supervising and appraising managers and actively involving service users and staff in service development.
• Preparing and presenting complex reports to stakeholders.

What We Offer:

• Professional Development: Access to ongoing training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside a team of passionate professionals who are committed to making a difference.
• Supportive Leadership: Benefit from the guidance and mentorship of experienced leaders who are invested in your success.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. This role is based in the UK.

Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Purpose:

To undertake the strategic direction and management of the service in an area. To lead in the development and administration of the service, in accordance with Council Policies and Procedures.

Responsibilities:

• To contribute to Council and Local Service Plans and initiatives and to be involved in the development of service provision including multi-agency team working.
• To provide a strategic overview to managers to enable them to contribute appropriately to the support planning and risk management process, including the arrangements for reviews and the care programme approach (CPA) which will provide for service users individual needs.
• To effectively address, report and act on all concerns in relation to service users and service delivery within the appropriate procedures.
• To ensure that all services are managed efficiently and effectively and in accordance with Council policies, procedures and legislation.
• To maintain and monitor documentation and high standards of performance management required by the Council including Commissioners.
• To lead and work within the agreed Quality Frameworks and ensure that best practice is evidenced, monitored and reviewed.
• To undertake supervision and performance appraisal of managers on a regular basis.
• To take an active role and involve service users and staff in the ongoing development of the service.
• To prepare and present complex and contentious reports, and management information to a range of stakeholders including non-specialists.
• To lead and undertake people related tasks in relation to workforce planning, performance and conduct and health and wellbeing in compliance with Council procedures.
• To promote wellbeing and safeguard adults from abuse and ensure all safeguarding concerns are reported and ensure the safeguarding plan is implemented.
• To take a lead in the recruitment and retention of the workforce.
• To lead on the implementation of an annual training plan and ensure that it is monitored and updated on a regular basis.
• To promote and develop partnership working within the local community, other organisations and with other stakeholders.
• To monitor and review effective rota management to meet the needs of service users within agreed budgets.
• To take accountability for all staffing budgets and other controllable budgets and ensure financial objectives are achieved.
• To undertake designated roles within Council Procedures such as Disciplinary, Grievance and Discrimination Complaints, Attendance Management and Improving Performance procedures.
• To undertake on call duties as required.
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the post.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner, committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desired Candidate Attributes:

• We’re looking for a dynamic leader with advanced interpersonal and communication skills, able to manage staff teams and work independently.
• You’ll be adept at making decisions, prioritising workloads, and presenting complex information to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage and motivate staff teams within social care or health care settings.
• Strong leadership, planning, and organisational skills.
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and developing services in co-production with service users.
• Knowledge of current trends, policies, and legislation relating to vulnerable adults in social care.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and upholding Council values and behaviours.
• Ability to address sensitive issues, promote equality, and challenge discrimination.

Essential Requirements:

• Manager working within the Mental Health and Physical Impairment Service must have completed the Skills for Care Management Induction or be prepared to complete this qualification with 12 weeks of commencement in the post.
• Managers are also required to make a commitment to their Continuous Professional Development on an ongoing basis.
• Ability to manage staff teams.
• Advanced leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative, make decisions and prioritise workload.
• Ability to communicate and present complex and contentious information in the most appropriate formats to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively plan, organise and delegate own work and that of others.
• Ability to seek, interpret and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
• Ability to work with a variety of electronic communications and technology.
• Ability to make decisions using wide discretion and initiative, having regard for the consequences.
• Ability to deal with contentious and sensitive issues.
• Ability to develop and initiate ideas and prepare reports in a logical, organised way, and present persuasively in an appropriate format.
• Ability to ensure equity and provide Best Value with regard to rota management.
• Ability to ensure best practice is evidenced in line with the Quality Frameworks and that time scales are achieved.
• Ability to motivate and develop managers to demonstrate competence whilst undertaking formal supervision and appraisal.
• Ability to demonstrate effective leadership and team-building skills.
• Ability to identify problems and seek appropriate solutions.
• Knowledge of current trends, policies, legislation and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable adults within a social care setting.
• Knowledge of the Quality Frameworks and how it is implemented within the Mental Health and Physical Impairment Service.
• Knowledge of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of service users as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an understanding and awareness of diversity issues within local communities.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the safeguarding issues and needs associated with vulnerable adults.
• Managers must have completed the Skills for Care Management Induction or be prepared to complete this qualification with 12 weeks of commencement in the post.
• Commitment to Continuous Professional Development on an ongoing basis.

Experience:

• Experience of working with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience of using initiative and a commitment to developing services in co-production with service users.
• Experience of working and managing staff teams within a social care or health care setting.
• Experience of applying LCC Policies and Procedures.
• Experience of strategically managing complex and challenging situations.
• Experience of implementing person-centred approaches.
• Experience of managing budgets and meeting financial objectives.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.